‘Lottie, that’s it.’ He stabbed a finger in my direction. ‘I’ve given you your last chance.’

My head was spinning and I grabbed the curtains to steady myself. ‘Just go. Please.’

‘Don’t worry. I’m out of here.’ He shoved Evie so hard that she fell sideways and hit her head on the door frame.

She yelled out with pain and clasped the side of her head. I ran to her as I heard the front door slam.

‘Hello. Which service do you require?’ said a tinny voice.

We stared at each other, frozen with fear.

‘Hello?’ repeated the voice.

‘Nothing. It’s okay now,’ said Evie, panting. ‘He’s gone.’

She ended the call and we sank to the floor and wept.

Harvey had gone and this time hopefully he’d gone for good.

Chapter 8

The next morning when I came downstairs in search of tea, Evie was already sitting at the kitchen table with a cup and her laptop in front of her. She was still in her dressing gown and had a towel wrapped around her head.

‘Morning,’ I said through a yawn.

‘Morning, yourself. Sit down, I’ll get you a mug, there’s some coffee in the cafetiere.’ She made to get up but I touched her shoulder.

‘Tea for me,’ I said. ‘And I’ll get it myself.’

‘You’re supposed to be my guest.’ She smiled, but her face held a tension as if there was an emotion she was battling to keep at bay.

No prizes for guessing what was bothering her, I thought with a flicker of guilt. I cancelled the ‘do not disturb’ setting from my phone and refilled the kettle. The visit from the fostering agency had gone without a hitch yesterday. I’d gone out again to give Evie some space so I hadn’t met the adviser, but Evie said that she had made all the right noises, approving the lovely light spare bedroom, which had originally been decorated by Darren as the nursery, and complimenting Evie on her small but pretty back garden, which could accommodate a swing or maybe a football goal if required.

But despite the positive outcome, the shadow of Harvey’s less pleasant visit had hung over us and she and I had been jumpy all evening, twitching whenever we heard a sound outside and holding our breath in case there was a knock at the door. I’d heard her go downstairs again after we’d gone to bed and check all the locks and I’d felt awful. Me bringing my problems to her door was the last thing my sister needed right now; she had enough on her plate.